DIRECTIONS

SANDY MUNLEY Executive Director The Ohio Landscape Association

CERTIFICATION

Last year, we let you know that The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) was permanently suspending their hands-on Landscape Industry Certified Technician (LIC) exterior exam. This decision was made, by NALP, in effort to make certification more accessible – not just limiting it to those with access to a hands-on testing site. (Historically, we offered this testing, every summer, in partnership with ONLA and OSU/ATI.)

In 2020, the LIC exam has now been revised and will only be available as an all-written, online test, which should allow candidates to test for the exam anywhere. They may take the exam at home, or in the office, as long as they have a computer with a webcam and internet access.

Unfortunately, if you were partially through the “old” test, you will need to start over again, from the beginning. There is currently no way to separate out the different sections, or “test problems,” that you may have already passed.

The new format utilizes multiple choice, drag and drop, and video to formulate the questions on the exam. Candidates will be challenged to do things like watch a video and answer questions about the video, or drag and drop answers into a proper order, in addition to your typical multiple choice type questions. There will still be (5) specialty areas to choose from: • Hardscape Installation • Softscape Installation • Ornamental Maintenance • Turf Maintenance, and • Irrigation

To register for the exam, go to www.landscapeprofessionals. org/certified. Click on the Program Enrollment button and you are on your way to register. You can order study material on NALP’s website, or if you are not a member of NALP, we can order your study guides for you at NALP member pricing.

Recertification will be necessary to maintain your credentials, just as it has been in the past. If you completed the handson test and are currently a Landscape Industry Certified Technician (LIC) your credential is still valid and maintained in the same manner. NALP requires 24 hours of continuing education every 2 years and a recertification fee. You can log into your account and add your CEUs from a portal on the NALP website.

Certification sets you and your company apart as a true professional. Let’s keep raising the bar!